SANGAM

Plan for hydrant dispenser refuelling at TIA

SANGAM PRASAIN

KATHMANDU, MAR 10 - Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) and plan to introduce hydrant dispenser to refuel aircrafts.

With CAAN planning to expand Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) under its TIA improvement project, the introduction of hydrant dispenser can be accomplished in the same project, a NOC official said.

The project is incorporated in both the CAAN master plan and NOC's commercial project.

The project which has been found economically viable is designed to refuel aircrafts incorporating innovative design and extremely efficient fuel-flow technology coupled with industry-standard components to provide easy, efficient and safe aircraft refuelling using the airport underground hydrant fuel system.

"With the growing airline industry in the country, and CAAN's move to expand existing facilities at the TIA, we can execute the underground hydrant fuel system," said Rabin Kumar Sharma, chief of the NOC, Aviation Fuel Depot.

Currently, NOC is delivering 200,000 to 250,000 litres aviation fuel daily through its nine refuelling tankers. Of the total refuelling tankers three tankers deliver 27,000 litres each, three 16,000 litres and the remaining three have a capacity of delivering 11,000 litres fuel. One aircraft (airbus) consumes 50,000 to 70,000 litres of fuel. The refuelling tankers pump 2,500 litres fuel into an aircraft per minute. However, the hydrant dispenser typically delivers aviation fuel from the hydrant into the aircraft at around 4,000 litres per minute.

The 2-km underground hydrant fuel system that will be linked directly to the TIA aircraft parking area is expected to reduce manual labour by 50 percent, Sharma said.

There will not be a substantial reduction in the existing cost factor of delivering fuel; however, the project will have a long-term economical benefit.

"It will mitigate fuel handling errors, reduce congestion, leakages and occupy a comparatively smaller space. More safety and efficiency-improving functions are also standard in this system," Sharma said.

NOC has prepared a pre-feasibility study of the system and forwarded the draft to CAAN saying it a viable project. The estimated construction cost for the project is estimated at Rs. 500 million.

However, NOC and CAAN are not decided on who will push the project ahead. "There are two alternatives; either go through Joint Venture model or take individual ownership," Sharma added.

According to NOC, the project can be push forward during the tender called for the international agency for the TIA expansion; the project can be incorporated as parallel in the same bidding procedure.

However, CAAN said that the NOC should also manage required infrastructure to take the project ahead incorporating its safety features.

"We can incorporate the project in the TIA improvement project in accordance to how the NOC's prepares its infrastructure," said Prem Raj Lohani, director general of TIA improvement project, CAAN.

He said that the project needs close coordination between NOC and CAAN. NOC should be clear on its infrastructure and plan for introducing the hydrant dispenser at TIA.